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HB1497 • 2026

The Protecting Our Hunting Dogs Act; create.

AN ACT TO CREATE "THE PROTECT OUR HUNTING DOGS ACT"; TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS; TO PROHIBIT ANY PERSON FROM INTENTIONALLY INJURING HUNTING DOGS; TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Crime
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Faulkner
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation includes details that are not explicitly supported by the provided official summary and bill text.

Protecting Our Hunting Dogs Act

This bill creates the Protecting Our Hunting Dogs Act to prevent people from intentionally harming hunting dogs and sets penalties for violators.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates a law called 'The Protecting Our Hunting Dogs Act'.
  • Defines what a hunting dog is, who can be its handler, and how to retrieve it if it strays onto private property.
  • Makes it illegal to intentionally hurt or kill a hunting dog without legal reason.
  • Sets penalties for hurting or killing a hunting dog, including fines up to $10,000 and jail time of up to five years.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Hunting dog owners and handlers
  • People who might harm hunting dogs

Terms To Know

Handler
The person who owns or is responsible for the control of a hunting dog.
Retrieve
The act of locating and removing a hunting dog from property not owned or controlled by the handler.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill did not pass in the session it was introduced.
  • The act does not apply to situations where a handler violates rules when retrieving their dog from private land.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/19 (H) Referred To Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

Official Summary Text

The Protecting Our Hunting Dogs Act; create.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 1497 *HR26/R2247* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR26/R2247
PAGE 1 (GT\KW)

To: Wildlife, Fisheries and
Parks
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Faulkner

HOUSE BILL NO. 1497

AN ACT TO CREATE "THE PROTECT OUR HUNTING DOGS ACT"; TO 1
PROVIDE DEFINITIONS; TO PROHIBIT ANY PERSON FROM INTENTIONALLY 2
INJURING HUNTING DOGS; TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS 3
ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as "The 6
Protect our Hunting Dogs Act". 7
SECTION 2. (1) The Legislature finds that: 8
(a) Lawfully used hunting dogs are valuable working 9
animals and personal property throughout the State of Mississippi. 10
(b) The intentional killing or harming of hunting dogs 11
undermines lawful hunting traditions, public safety, and animal 12
welfare. 13
(c) Uniform statewide standards are necessary to 14
protect both private property rights and responsible hunting 15
practices. 16
(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that this act apply 17
uniformly across all counties, municipalities, and jurisdictions 18
within the State of Mississippi, without exception. 19
H. B. No. 1497 *HR26/R2247* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R2247
PAGE 2 (GT\KW)

SECTION 3. For purposes of this act, the following words 20
shall have the meanings described herein: 21
(a) "Hunting dog" means a dog lawfully used for 22
hunting, tracking, locating, or recovering game, including bird 23
dogs, hounds, retrievers, and tracking dogs. 24
(b) "Handler" means the owner or person lawfully 25
responsible for the control of a hunting dog. 26
(c) "Retrieve" means the act of locating and removing a 27
hunting dog from property not owned or controlled by the handler. 28
SECTION 4. (1) It shall be unlawful anywhere within the 29
State of Mississippi for any person to knowingly, intentionally, 30
or maliciously kill or cause serious bodily injury to a hunting 31
dog without legal justification. 32
(2) A violation of this act shall constitute a felony, 33
punishable by: 34
(a) Imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, 35
(b) A fine of not more than Ten Thousand Dollars 36
($10,000.00), or 37
(c) Both. 38
(3) Upon conviction, the court shall order mandatory 39
restitution, including, but not limited to: 40
(a) Veterinary costs, 41
(b) Replacement value of the dog, 42
(c) Training and breeding costs, and 43
(d) Any related economic losses. 44
H. B. No. 1497 *HR26/R2247* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R2247
PAGE 3 (GT\KW)

(4) This section does not apply to lawful self defense where 45
a hunting dog poses an immediate and credible threat of serious 46
bodily harm. 47
SECTION 5. (1) A handler shall have a limited statewide 48
right to retrieve a hunting dog that unintentionally strays onto 49
private property, provided the handler complies with all of the 50
following: 51
(a) The handler shall not carry a firearm or weapon 52
during retrieval. 53
(b) The handler shall make reasonable efforts to notify 54
the landowner or occupant prior to entry when practicable. 55
(c) Entry shall be limited solely to retrieving the dog 56
and shall not include hunting, chasing game, or remaining on the 57
property longer than reasonably necessary. 58
(d) The handler shall cause no damage to crops, fences, 59
gates, livestock, or other property. 60
(2) This section does not authorize: 61
(a) Hunting or scouting on private property, 62
(b) Use of motorized vehicles without permission, or 63
(c) Entry onto posted property where retrieval has been 64
expressly denied and reasonable alternatives exist. 65
(3) A handler who violates this section may be prosecuted 66
under existing criminal trespass statutes. 67
H. B. No. 1497 *HR26/R2247* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R2247
PAGE 4 (GT\KW)
ST: The Protecting Our Hunting Dogs Act;
create.
SECTION 6. A handler who enters property solely for lawful 68
retrieval in compliance with this act shall not be civilly liable 69
for trespass where no damage occurs. 70
SECTION 7. This act shall preempt any local ordinance, 71
regulation, or policy that conflicts with or attempts to restrict 72
the protections or retrieval rights established herein. 73
SECTION 8. If any provision of this act is held invalid, 74
such invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions. 75
SECTION 9. This act shall take effect and be in force from 76
and after July 1, 2026. 77